Je suis qui je suis
(I am who I am) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
Raphaëlle is not going on holiday this year as her mother will soon be having a baby. Paris seems very dull to Raph, who cannot shake off a deep-seated sense of sadness. Part girl, part boy, she feels lost and sad without knowing quite why. She steals letters from her neighbours in the hope of finding answers, but it does not help. Raph shares her feelings with her new friend Sarah, who advises her to get to the bottom of her melancholy to fight it. Raph eventually comes to understand that the sadness comes not from her, but from her mother, who always dreamed of having a little boy. At long last, Raph manages to shake off her misery.
Edited by: Université Sorbonne Paris Nord
Comment:
Catherine Grive’s novel shows it is impossible to live up to other people’s ideas of what we should be. Raph finds herself unwittingly trapped in the image her mother projects of her, which does not match her own true identity. It becomes clear to the reader that Raph’s sadness is perhaps incipient depression. Nothing excites her, she is angry with her parents and struggles for their attention, and even sorting through her bedroom takes up most of her holidays. The author handles the tricky topic very sensitively, encouraging readers not to sweep things under the carpet. Clues to the ending are cleverly woven into the well constructed plot. A fine novel about self-discovery and uncovering family secrets.